Mr. Mondello, Chet, Phil and Biff, who had been
sitting closer to the exit, waited for Dennie to appear. Each had noticed
the drastic change in the once happy, outgoing boy and were trying to
think of something that would lift his spirits.

As Dennie stepped off the
plane and onto the first step, every member of the waiting group was
dumbstruck. The blond-headed youth, who had been so reserved on their
departure, was now smiling. Even from the distance, they could make out
the spark in Dennie's eyes and see by the hurried descension that Dennie's
entire attitude had changed.

Before Dennie could head over to his waiting friends, Jima clamped a hand
on Dennie's shoulder. "Remember, we're right next to the Duvaliers and I, my
mother, bandmates and grandmother, all speak English. If you need any
help, let me know. I would be glad to help. But please," he added in a
lower voice. "Don't let my family know. Voodoo is very real here."

"I can see that," Dennie said. "I used to think it was just black magic,
like witchcraft back in the states. But since our stay here, I've learned
it's much more than that."

"See ya 'round," Jima said and headed over to where a boy, not much
younger than Dennie, stood waiting.

Dennie joined his dad and friends. He was about to tell them what he had
learned from Jima, but was prevented by the arrival of Dr. Duvalier.

"I'm sorry, Fenton," Dr. Duvalier said, clasping his hand in a firm
grip. "I've had my men look for Artie, but he just isn't on the
plantation."

"Where do you think he might be?" Dennie asked, rudely interrupting the
introduction.

Dr. Duvalier looked at Dennie. "One of the men told me a truck was seen
leaving the plantation shortly after Artie's coffin had been put in the
crate," he said. "Artie's body was most likely taken away on it."

"But the crate hadn't been tampered with," Dennie pointed out.

"There was probably a mix-up, and the wrong crate was taken," Dr.
Duvalier replied a bit nervoulsy.

"Soooo, you're saying there were two crates, each with a coffin inside
of it, and the one with Artie was taken by mistake?" Dennie asked, his tone
voicing his disbelief.

"Joseph!" snapped Mr. Mondello.

"You are right, of course," Dr. Duvalier agreed with Dennie. "It does not
seem plausible, does it? Perhaps, I was misinformed."

"Who told you about the truck?" Dennie asked.

"Mebwa," Dr. Duvalier answered.

"Can we speak with him?" inquired Mr. Mondello.

"I'm afraid that isn't possible," was the answer.

"Why not?" Phil asked, beginning, along with Dennie, to think the man was
lying.

"He left two days ago," Dr. Duvalier said. "His mother became ill and
he had to leave."

The Mondello Boys belong to Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer Foundation. The
Mondello Boys Fan Fiction authors of the
Mondello Detective Agency have just borrowed them for an adventure or
two. The authors promise to put the boys back when they are done with them. The
authors do claim copyright to the original characters in this story. Please do
not borrow original characters without express permission of the authors.